gossip, slander and jealousy

They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere. Psalm 41:6

I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
I will not endure conceit and pride. Psalm 101:5

In the same way, their wives[a] must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. Timothy 3:11

Footnotes: Or the women deacons. The Greek
word can be translated women or wives.

They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 2 Timothy 3:3

I believe that, when God's work is thriving in his house, Satan is not happy. Satan will use believers against each other to stop the good things that are being done to further the Kingdom of God. I believe that women, in particular, are tempted more often with opportunities to gossip or slander one another. Christian women should talk about this and do something about it. Right now, I am telling you that if you hear gossip or slander come from my mouth, call me on it. Stop me immediately and tell me to go to the person I am talking about and work out the problem with them, not go around telling others.

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous. Proverbs 27:4

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

I think much of the gossip and slander committed by Christian women is based on jealousy. I have a feeling many of these women do not consider the gossip, slander and jealousy to be something to be very concerned about. But, as the verse from Galatians above shows, they are definitely things that should cause extreme concern.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them...Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:29, 31-32